Residents celebrate as estate rebuild plan refused

Fiona Kiane says the Abbey Estate has a strong sense of community and she wants to stay in her home for the rest of her life

A resident whose house was one of hundreds faced with demolition said she felt like she had won the lottery after the plans were refused.

A housing association wanted to rebuild almost half of the 1,100 properties on the Abbey Estate in Thetford, Norfolk, and also build 500 more homes.

But a committee at Breckland Council voted against the plans at a meeting attended by 112 people. Resident Fiona Kiane said she was "absolutely elated".

The housing association said it respected the decision but was still "committed" to creating change on the estate.

Ms Kiane has lived there for 25 years and is a member of the Abbey Action Group.

Her house was earmarked for demolition and would have become a car park.

"From my back gate to my front gate, it's mine and I own it.

"I spent a lot of money and I've paid my mortgage and this is all mine now," she said.

"It just makes me feel angry that people can come in and decide this is the fate of this estate when they know nothing about us...

"I'm passionate about my house. I want to live here for the rest of my life."

She said the estate, where her son also lives, had a strong sense of community.

A total of 66% of the properties belong to Bromford Flagship

The Abbey Estate, built in the late 1960s and early 1970s, has been classified as one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in England.

The revamp proposal has been contentious since it was first announced in 2019.

Housing association Bromford Flagship wanted its £250m plan to bring "long-term improvements", which included demolishing and replacing up to 551 homes.

A total of 66% of properties on the estate belong to the social housing provider, and with the promise of new energy efficient homes, they had sought to reassure residents.

More than 100 people were at the planning committee meeting on Thursday

The planning committee at Breckland Council voted to reject the outline planning application on Thursday.

"I am absolutely elated. It's like winning the lottery," Ms Kiane added.

"I am so happy for everybody on the estate and all the people that have been so stressed out."

Other residents who celebrated the decision when speaking to the BBC included Colin and Doreen Jones.

Mr Jones said: "I thought I must have misheard, but I'm really, really pleased.

"It's been hanging over our heads for six years and now - see my wife's face, she's so happy."

Residents react to the decision of Breckland councillors at the Abbey Estate meeting in Thetford

Mrs Jones added: "Brilliant, I'm just so excited and so proud of everybody for speaking up for us.

"I know it's round one, but we'll go through the second one with them as well."

Kathy Spillane said: "I'm really pleased with that decision, I could tell that the councillors were really moved as the residents were speaking.

"All of us have had six years of very poor consultation. The councillors voted with their hearts rather than their heads."

South West Norfolk Labour MP Terry Jermy said he was delighted for the residents.

"[The proposal] would have destroyed the community, infilling many of the green spaces without delivering sufficient public benefits," he said.

"Hundreds of residents, including homeowners would have been forcibly removed from their homes. "

'Matters to us'

Dave Armstrong, chief operating officer at Bromford Flagship, said the firm would take time to understand the decision and listen to what had been said.

"We're naturally disappointed, but we fully respect the decision and the views that have been shared," he said.

"We've heard that change is needed, and we remain committed to working with the council and the community to make that happen."

He continued: "The Abbey matters to us because the people who live there matter."